Spice up your protein with the cozy fall flavor of fresh apple cider, sprinkled with cinnamon and vanilla. It’s a perfect shake for post-workout on a chill autumn day, or any time of year when hunger strikes.

You may think you can’t live without your Sunday morning cinnamon rolls. But once you try this Cinnamon Roll Protein Shake recipe, you’ll quickly convert to craving its lower-calorie, liquid decadence.

Smoothies

There’s something about fresh fruit smoothies and summer time. I look forward to both! I love to make fruit smoothies with frozen berries, a scoop of vegan protein powder, mango juice, and vanilla soy milk. Truth is, you need a good smoothie blender to make one or two. 🙂

Vitamix S50 Blender – Create healthful and delicious smoothies, lightning-quick salsa fresca, baby food, quick sauces and so much more this innovative blender packs the legendary power of a Vitamix into a compact package designed specifically for individuals.

There are special features to look for when buying a new kitchen blender. You would be surprised about all of the different types of blenders available on the market today. This articles talks about what to look out for when buying a new blender.

The best blender is one that does everything you need it to do and a bit more. Blenders can be multifunctional kitchen appliances that are used to create smoothies, shakes, soups, dips and dressings. The best blenders have enough power to make crushed ice, and some even are so powerful that they can make fresh peanut butter.

To determine which blender is best for you you first need to ask yourself, “What will I use it for?” Once you have answered this question then here are a few things to consider when shopping for your blender.

Review your wants and needs – What do you want to do with your blender? Answering this question will help you decide what kind of blender you should be looking at. For example, if you want to use ice cubes and hard frozen fruit then you will need one that can handle this process well, i.e., has more power.

Blender power – The more horsepower / watts, the more powerful the blender will be. The advantages: your fruit and vegetable drinks will be creamier and smoother, and if it has enough power you will be able to make fresh peanut butter from peanuts. Or you can turn ice cubes into crushed ice for frozen drinks.

Blender speed – Blender power is more important than speed. You don’t really need a 10 speed blender. Most jobs can be done with just three speeds and a pulse option.

Blender blade – They are either integrated into the pitcher or are detachable. Detachable blender blades can be easier to clean, e.g., when making thicker sauces. However the more moving parts the greater the chance for leaks and wear and tear. Most high-end blender pitchers have integrated blades. Blender blades come in different shapes, widths and lengths too. Blender blades are two, four or six pronged.

Blender pitcher/jar – They need to funnel food or liquid down to the blades to provide an even blend and mix. Common material used for blender pitchers are glass, polycarbonate and stainless steel. Each manufacturer has their own graded material; some are brake resistant, dishwasher safe, scratch resistant and commercially rated. Glass blender pitchers are much heavier than polycarbonate pitchers but are also less scratch resistant. Stainless steel might look sleek and does not break, but you can not see what is inside. Some blender pitchers are wider than others. When working with food wider is generally better, less clogging.

Blender pitcher/jar capacity – Most range in pitcher capacity size from 40 to 64 ounces (1.2 – 1.9 liters). If possible, always buy a larger blender pitcher. You do not want your blender to overflow. Your family size or portion size might be an important factor when deciding, which is the best blender for your needs and lifestyle, e.g., baby food, entertaining friends, or preparing meals for the entire week.

Blender pulse – Blenders with a pulse button can be used for crushing ice and can prevent over mixing or over processing, therefore providing more individual control.

Blender design – Most machines are countertop units, so remain displayed on kitchen countertops. Aesthetics are very important for many; however remember if your blender does not do what you need it to do you will not use it. Some come in various colors. Note, some are very tall and therefore don’t fit under standard cabinets.

Blender type – They fall in one of three categories: home blender, professional blender and commercial blender. Most professional units are for home use, for frequent use. Some are professional bar blenders mainly for mixing drinks, some might be commercial certified. Commercial units are certified for commercial usage.

Blender warranty – They vary from one-year to seven-years. Most professional blenders have the longest warranties. Some brands provide longer warranty on the motor than pitcher.

Savings – Blenders can save you time, money and space. Blenders can save you time by easily chopping and mixing up food for your meals – a quick way to make a healthy meal or drink. Blenders can save you money by giving you the option of eating and drinking healthier instead of spending money on fast-food. And in some cases blenders can replace other kitchen appliances and thereby not only saving you money but also saving you cupboard or kitchen countertop space.

Healthy lifestyle – Making a rich and notorious smoothie with fresh ingredients only takes a few minutes, and is the healthier option than most processed and fast-foods.

Versatility – If eating fresh food or drinking fresh shakes as often as possible is important to you then a blender can enrich your cooking and preparation experience. Many different ingredients can easily be mixed together and blended into incredible drinks, dips, sauces, dressings, and soups. Some blenders are even that powerful to turn nuts into butters, or whole wheat grains into fresh powdery flour.

“Do not be penny-wise and pound foolish when picking your blender.” – Marc S. Owner of Best Blenders

Reason why: If your blender does not meet your expectations and needs you will not use it, and/or your blender has deficiencies, here too, you will not use it. The right blender will do a lot for you and you will use it regularly for a very long time.

Marc S. is passionate about blending and out of frustration, due to the lack of quality information on the subject of blenders and blending, he created Best Blenders, http://www.best-blenders.net.

Gone were the days when sodas and liquors were the main drinks opted by most people. In this age of healthy living, more and more people are trying to keep their bodies in shape and healthy by doing workout exercises and eating and drinking nutritious foods. One of the trends now is keeping yourself healthy by taking in nutrients through the beverages that you drink. And when you talk about healthy drinks, you can never avoid the thought of those delicious and healthy smoothies. The great thing about these healthy treats is that, using a dependable smoothies maker, you can easily make your favorite smoothie at home with just a couple of minutes.

Making your favorite drink is actually very easy; you will just need a blender then you are ready. Aside from regular blenders, you can also use a smoothie maker. These are basically blenders that are capable of producing much finer and much smoother drink texture. This is because, compared to regular blenders, smoothie makers are equipped with high-powered motors. Other than that, you can be sure that all ingredients will be very well mixed since smoothie makers usually have narrow glass bodies. In effect, you will have a much richer smoothie. Discover some smoothie maker brand models that you can find in the market.

Kenwood Smoothie SB206

Furnished with an acrylic cylinder, the Kenwood Smoothie SB206 carries up to 1.5-liters of ingredients. You can also find markings for 2 and 4 servings on its cylinder that serves as a guide to each user. In addition to this, you can transfer your favorite smoothie from cylinder to drinking glass more conveniently through its dispensing tap. It is also equipped with rubber feet which ensure stable and tumble-free usage.

In terms of its dimensions, the Kenwood Smoothie SB206 measures 380mm x 215mm x 200mm and weighs 3 kilograms. You can also expect a much richer smoothie treat with its two-way blade rotation feature that has a maximum speed setting of 3 using a high-power motor.

Back-To-Basics Smoothie Elite

If you are looking for a machine that is capable of crushing ice cubes in a very efficient manner for a greater texture, then the Back-To-Basics Smoothie Elite is the right one for you. This brand model is also furnished with dispensing valves which allow you to conveniently transfer your favorite smoothie from the smoothie maker goblet to your drinking glass. The Back-To-Basics Smoothie Elite is also furnished with a stir stick, enabling you to mix those ingredients inside its goblet.

With a maximum of 3 speed options and a 50-watt pulse-power motor, you are sure to have a richer smoothie drink. This particular brand model can carry 56 ounces of ingredients.

Kenwood Smoothie SB307 Pro

The Kenwood Smoothie SB307 Pro is a great machine with high durability due to its metal body and glass goblet. Its glass goblet can carry ingredients up to 2 liters. Thus, with this brand model, you can enjoy more of your favorite beverages. In addition to that, the Kenwood Smoothie SB307 Pro is furnished with a stir stick that partners its ice-crushing blades in blending your smoothie ingredients with more efficiency and richness. You will also love its dispenser tap which aids you in transferring your smoothie in a more convenient manner. This particular brand model also allows you to have a guarded and tidy smoothie-making experience with its safety interlock feature.

With a smoothies maker at hand, you can savor your favorite smoothie treat at home anytime you want. Stick to these healthy smoothie drinks by using efficient smoothie-makers and stay healthy and happy.

Gary Spero is the chief editor of Smoothies Recipe. As well as being a health enthusiast he is also interested in self improvement and psychology. To get more information and delicious smoothies maker visit his website to sign up for his free Smoothie Tips & Recipes mini-course.

‘Smoothie’ is a relatively new term for a blended, chilled drink made from a combination of ingredients, including fresh fruit, ice, milk and yogurt. They usually have a milkshake-like consistency. Crushing and mixing the ingredients by hand can be extremely difficult, so the solution is to buy a smoothie maker.

What is a Smoothie Maker

A smoothie maker is very similar to a blender. It is an upright electrical device which is usually made from glass, plastic and/or stainless steel. The top part of a smoothie maker is a detachable jug which contains a blade. The ingredients are put in to this jug and the blade is turned on – most smoothie makers offer a selection of blending speeds. In a matter of seconds the ingredients and blended and liquefies together to form a juice. Most smoothie makers also have a tap for dispensing the beverage when it is made.

How to make a Great Smoothie in your Smoothie Maker

By following the steps outlined below you can make healthy, delicious, nutritious smoothies in your smoothie maker, saving money on buying pre-made smoothies, and boosting your health at the same time.

Firstly put in your fruit. The fruit is a key ingredient, and the fresher that your fruit is, the better your smoothie will taste. A wide variety of fruits can be used in a smoothie, with popular choices being bananas, mangoes, strawberries, oranges and blueberries. Frozen fruit can also be used, but try to avoid tinned fruit – as this often comes in lots of unhealthy sugar or syrup.

Next, add milk. Skimmed milk and soy milk are the healthiest choices. Try to avoid full cream milk as it contains quite a lot of fat. If you are lactose intolerant, or simply fancy a more tangy flavour, you can use fruit juice instead.

If you are using the smoothie as a meal replacement, consider adding protein powder. This will help fill you up, and will thicken the consistency of your smoothie.

Add any other ingredients of your liking to the smoothie maker. Popular choices are ice cream, yogurt and honey. For a healthier choice use the low fat versions of these products.

When all of the ingredients are in the smoothie maker, put the lid on and turn on the blender. If the mixture starts to become too thick and stodgy add ice cubes, one by one, until the mixture is at a better level of liquidity.

When the mixture has finished blending, remove the lid from the smoothie maker and pour your drink in to a tall glass, and enjoy your smoothie!

UK author who is meeting a need for website reviews of the best kitchen and cooking equipment by publishing several sites including Smoothie Maker [http://www.smoothiemaker.org.uk] and Waffle Maker [http://www.wafflemaker.org.uk]

English: Consume of barbacoa with a strawberry “licuado” (milk fruit and sugar whipped in a blender) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I love smoothies! They are so quick and easy with a Cuisinart Smoothie Maker, the Cuisinart CBT-700 Die-Cast 700-Watt Blender. You simply add the ingredients, blend and you have a lovely meal in no time. It is important that your blender is strong enough to blend just about anything as these days we tend to even add seeds etc. to our smoothies.

In South Africa it is summer now and it is smoothie time! A very tasty variation on one is to make a fruit ice with your blender. It is very easy to do and it is very tasty.

Making a fruit ice takes a little planning. You have to cut up and freeze the fruit in advance and then you use the frozen fruit to make a very tasty ice drink. I love to use strawberries, they are so tasty and the color is simply lovely.

This is how I make my strawberry ice:

Freeze a good amount of strawberries, but you have to freeze them flat so that you can add them one at a time through the opening on the top (what do you call it?)

Now I add some full cream milk to the machine (I do not really measure it I just pour about one cup in.

To this I add a few spoons of plain yogurt

Some honey to sweeten it, you can use sweetener, but I am not too sure of the health hazards of sweetener.

Then I start blending and I add the strawberries one at a time until I have the consistency I want.

That’s it, you can of course add whatever you please, that is the fun of a smoothie, your imagination is the limit.

What you should not try and so with your blender, I did with disastrous results, is to blend soup with it. It is supposed to take it, and it will take it for a long time, but one day the glass jug will simply say so far and no further! For blending soups and sauces I recommend a hand blender. Hand blenders are cheap and with most of them you can blend the soup or the sauce in the pot, no extra dishes.

Other than that, I do not have any other potential problems I feel I have to want you about.

Owning a Cuisinart Smoothie Maker [http://mykitchenonline.info/cuisinart-smoothie-maker-cuisinart-cbt-700-die-cast-700-watt-blender/], the Cuisinart CBT-700 Die-Cast 700-Watt Blender, will give you hours of easy blending, go and have a look at it at: My Kitchen Online [http://mykitchenonline.info/cuisinart-smoothie-maker-cuisinart-cbt-700-die-cast-700-watt-blender/]

There are a lot of people who think that a blender will do the same thing as a juicer. First and foremost we want you to know that these two machines are totally different in how they operate as well as what the overall objective is.

Later we will cover the high power high-speed blenders that are on the market that are totally unique when compared to a regular low horse power blender as found in most department or discount stores and are really in a class by themselves.

Regular store-bought blenders versus a juicer.

A juicer is designed to separate the juice of the fruit or vegetable from the fiber. This separation is the basic process of this type of machine. The entire premise is that the human body will then be able to easily access the nutrients that have been extracted from the fruit or vegetable. People report more energy almost instantly due to the body having easy access to the nutrients. Almost no digestion is required, thereby allowing more energy being available for other activities.

Let’s compare this action to that of a regular store-bought blender. First off, a blender of this type will generally not be able to break down the cell wall of the fruit or vegetable and allow for the juice to be removed from the fiber. Generally this type of blender is not capable of creating a smoothie type finished product. It simple lacks the power and blade speed that is required to totally pulverize the contents of the blender. Thus, what comes out of this type of blender is a somewhat chunky and much less palatable finished product. There is little comparison to the juice that comes from an actual juicer. Let’s face it; chunks in a drink are not very pleasing. Further, if you want to have juice from using this method, then you must filter out the fibrous potion of the drink using a cloth screen adding to the work load of attempting to juice with a blender. In addition, since the blade speed is inadequate to fully pulverize the contents this process will waste some of the fruit or vegetable contents.

There are other benefits to a smoothie maker versus a juicing machine or just using a store-bought blender.

Neither a store-bought blender or the best juicer will extract the nutrient benefits of the seeds of some produce such as a strawberry because the seeds are just too small. In addition, if seeds and nuts are a desired ingredient, they are not going to be broken down into any usable drink and will remain very gritty with lower powered blenders. These two items are not even supposed to be put through a juicing machine.

Back to our example of the strawberries. If the actual seeds of the berry are not pulverized, then there is no way that the blender is removing the majority of the obstacles for the body to obtain maximum benefit from the produce that is attempting to be pulverized. This principle goes for a juicer as well. If the pulp or the juice contains unbroken strawberry seeds, then the same is true for a juicer.

There are some problems that can come with juicing that are not present with blending or with a high powered smoothie maker.

We will cover more in the next few paragraphs, but let me just share with you what a Naturopathic MD told me. Her real concern with juicing was the spike of sugar it causes to a body. This can happen even with vegetables. So unless there is a medical reason to do this, this Doctor was convinced that creating a meal or drink which was totally pulverized, (let’s call them smoothies) even down to strawberry seeds would be better than a straight juiced drink.

This Doctor went on to explain that the natural fiber contained within the smoothies is also good for the digestive tract in a healthy body. Also this process encourages the body to absorb the nutrition that has been made more readily available by the processing of the fruits and vegetables, seeds or nuts that may be present, but at a more regulated and natural rate due to the inclusion of the natural fiber.

I personally do not have the knowledge to say one way or the other which is better. But I can attest to the benefits of using one of these high-speed, high horse power blenders that can turn even strawberry seeds into a part of a nutritious drink when used as a smoothie maker. Each time I go on one of my health kicks, as my friends call them, I lose a belt notch within a few weeks. And as of this writing I have lost 11 pounds over the past 10 days without even trying. I am a five foot ten inch male and was at 205 pounds when I started this project. I simply started to eat a few smoothies and there the weight goes! No work, no effort and no change to my normal routine other than switching a few meals from what I normally eat to a smoothie, it is simply amazing.

And I do not, let me repeat, I do not eliminate all of my favorite foods. I have an ice cream type smoothie about 5 days a week when I go onto this so-called health kick. It is not a tough road to hoe! Seems like my bad food cravings just go away.

One other thought about the differences, I know that soft fruit like a banana or even some items like an avocado produce no juice with a juicing machine and only create a big mess. With a powerful blender these soft items can be included if desired. In addition, nuts or seeds can be utilized in this process as well if desired.

There are only two machines that I know of that have the ability to pulverize the seeds of a strawberry, that is the Vita-Mix as well as the BlendTec.

I can personally attest to the Vita-Mix machine as I have owned one for many years. It not only juices but also does a lot of other household cooking jobs such as to puree food, blending, and mincing and it will even knead dough. This machine even makes great ice cream. Yes, ice cream is still a weakness of mine but at least this way I know what is in it! It just doesn’t get any better than this.

Hi I’m Kevin. Ever since I was introduced by an MD to the idea of assisting my own body for total wellness my life has never been the same. And a great smoothie maker [http://www.juicingbenefitsmadeeasy.com/smoothie_maker_or_juicer.html] is just the right tool to assist in a total wellness plan.

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